The AP explains that going before the General Assembly permits the Palestinians to bypass any veto. The AP adds:

"The Palestinians say the assembly is likely to vote Thursday on a resolution raising their status at the U.N. from an observer to a nonmember observer state, a move they believe is an important step toward a two-state solution with Israel. A Palestinian state would still not be a full General Assembly member, however.

"Unlike the Security Council, there are no vetoes in the General Assembly and the resolution is virtually certain of approval. But such a vote by France — a permanent council member — could weigh on decisions in other European capitals.

"Europe is divided over the issue. Switzerland and Portugal have said they will vote for the measure, but Germany is among the countries that have opposed the bid. Britain's position remains unclear."

France 24 reports that French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius made the announcement during a speech to lower house of the country's National Assembly.

France 24 adds that France had already broken with the United States when it voted in favor of "giving the Palestinians full membership of the UN's cultural agency UNESCO."

Another important thing to note: A non-member observer state receives access to International Criminal Court, where Palestinians could file their complaints against Israel.

Copyright 2012 National Public Radio. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.